Share this:

With less than a month remaining until the start of the World Baseball Classic on March 5, it’s time to break down the double-elimination opening round. First up, Pool A, being played in Tokyo. (Part four in a seven-part series)

Outlook: Lacking the offensive firepower of some teams, a veteran squad led by the revered Ichiro knows this multi-week tourney is a marathon not a sprint. Expect multiple showdowns with rival South Korea.

Prediction: 2-1

CHINA

2006 finish: Eliminated in pool play

Key players: OF Fei Feng, OF Lingfeng Sun, RHP Chenhao Li

Strength: Mercy rule

Weakness: Offense

Outlook: What will be higher, the country’s population or its team’s ERA? China was outscored 60-14 in seven games at the Bejing Olympics last year.

Prediction: 0-2

SOUTH KOREA

2006 finish: Semifinals

Key players: LHP Hyunjin Ryu, 1B Seung-Yeop Lee, DH Dae Ho Lee

Strengths: Tournament savvy, bats

Weakness: Right-handed pitching

Outlook: Reigning Olympic gold medalists have best team with no major big-league presence. Will give Japan and the Western powers all they can handle, but two straight international crowns is too much to ask.

Prediction: 3-1

TAIWAN

2006 finish: Eliminated in pool play

Key players: LHP Fu-Te Ni, OF Kuo Hi Lo, OF Che-Hsuan Lin

Strength: Starting pitching

Weakness: Youth

Outlook: No Chien-Ming Wang means virtually no chance of advancing from the pool for this talented but up-and-coming green team.